Combined case and mount or carriage for guns.



No. 678,390. Patented luly l6; l9 0l.-." E. VUN FBE-YSTADTLER.

COMBINED CASE AND MOUNT 0R CARRIAGE FOR GUNS.

- (Applicstian med Dec. 20, 1900. 7 (N0 Model.) 2 Shaun-sheaf I.

Fly! By. 2.

e-xres Wald. 711.

1m: uoiuus mans co movaunn. wuummzm. w c.

No; 678,390. Patented July l6, l90l. E. VQN FREYSTADTLEB.

COMBINED OAS E AND MOUNT 0B CARRIAGE FOR GUNS.

(Application flied Dec. $0, 1900.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

lfikzwse Znven'l'r "m: NORRIS ravens co. motauhuo WASNINGTUN, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGEN VON FREYSTADTLER, OF BUDAPEST, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

COMBINED CASE AND MOUNT OR CARRIAGE FOR GUNS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 678,390, dated July 16, 1901.

Application filed December 20, 1900. Serial No. 40,524. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EUGEN VON FREY- sTAD'rLER, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, residing at Budapest, in the Empire of -Austria-Hungary, have invented certain newand usefulImprovements in Oombined Cases and Mounts or Carriages for Guns, (for which I have applied for patents in Germany, dated September 19, 1900; in Austria, dated September 24, 1900; in Hungary, dated September 4:, 1900; in France, dated September 28, 1900, and in England, dated September 28,1900,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object a gun case or box which is convertible into a gun mount or base (gun-carriage) by means of which both with quick-firers and also any other field-piece an easy and rapid transportability and a rapid preparation for firing are obtained, said arrangement also serving as a protective shield when under fire. The abovementioned objectthat is, the obtaining of an easy and rapid transportability-is obtained by the gun-barrel which is provided with a suitable breech-piece or' closing mechanism being placed during conveyance in a comparatively light and fiat boxshaped container, which in consequence of its form and its comparatively small weight is very suitable for transport on a beast of burden or on a mans back. The rapid and convenient transport is further facilitated by the ammunition, cleaning requisites, and the like,which in the case of the guns hitherto employed have been carried in a separate receptacle, being in the present arrangement all capable of being conveniently placed in the mount or base part of the case, whereby, as will be hereinafter explained, the rapid preparation for firing is combined with the convenient transport. By this construction the result is also attained that a complete weapon is at disposal in one piece, with fittings and ammunition. The other object-that is, the rapid preparation for firingis secured by the guncase being adapted to be converted by some extremely simple, rapid, and easily executed manipulations into a mount or base for the gun. By this arrangement the barrel and. the gun carriage-that is, the whole shooting appliance-oan be carried by a single beast of burden, so that, moreover, time is saved by its not being necessary to collect the separate parts of the gun from different places or several beasts of burden, as is the case at present with the portable. guns or mountain-batteries now in use. I have also designed a saddle by means of which two such guns can be loaded on one pack-animal, which may well be done, as the weight is comparatively small.

By the present invention the gun may be readily brought into a condition for firing under any circumstances and at any time and place, as the case, tightly closed on all sides, completely protects the barrel and accessories placed within it from rain, dust, and other deleterious influences, while with guns as at present employed rusting through external influences, and consequently irregularities in the working, may easily result, a complete closing being wanting which would protect the shooting mechanism from these delete-' rious influences.

Firing can take place everywhere, as the case in a closed condition, in consequence of its flat and narrow form, can easily be conveyed to any place where only men can go, and as the gun is here supported on a fixed or solid frame and not on wheels, any running forward or backward during the firin gis totally prevented.

A particular advantage of this invention consists in that the gun-case when converted into the gun carriage or mount forms a protective wall or shield closed on three sides, and the front part when filled with earth or ballast protects the soldiers kneeling behind the gun against the enemys fire.

, The invention consists, essentially, of a fiat elongated box capable of being divided into three parts and closed, said parts being provided with suitable connecting devices and fitting together in a U form, thus forming an extremely firm gun mount or carriage. The elongated closed case can be divided into two parts of approximately equal size, one of which forms the part of the carriage which directly supports the gun, while the second part can be again divided into two equal parts adapted to be fixed on both sides of the previously-mentioned base piece or support to form the two cheeks of the gun-carriage.

In order to increase the stability of the gunmount, separate stays and a stiffening-plate are provided, which are placed in the interior of the case when the gun is being transported.

A form of construction of the object of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a front view of the closed case or container; Fig. 2, a side View of same; Fig. 3, a plan view of same. Fig. 4 shows the under part of the case when taken apart, which under part forms the base or mount.

Fig. 5 shows the upper part of the case when,

taken apart, which consists of the two side pieces or cheeks connected with one another. Figs. 6 and 7 show the two cheeks separated and placed side by side. Fig. 8 is a view in perspective of the stiffening-plate to be placed on the gun-carriage. Fig. 9 is an elevation of a strut or stiffening-arm; Fig. 10, a view in perspective of a gun-carriage connected with one cheek or side piece, and Fig. 11 a view in perspective of the gun-carriage put together ready for firing. two views of a tube having a screw-thread at the bottom which is designed to fix the stiifening-plates on the gun-carriage, the, nut used for the purpose being also shown in the View on the left-hand side.

The mount a or base part proper forming the under part of the gun-carriage consists of a hollow case closed on four sides and beneath, but open at the upper part and having the upper edge of a wavy form. The base part a, which has at the edges and sides a suitable iron sheathing, is provided at the ends with vertical steel bars 19, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 10, by means of which the cheeksor side pieces 6 may be attached to the base part a. A block 0, having an oblong upper surface, Figs. 4, 10, and 11, is fixed in the center of the upwardly-directed opening of the part at and serves for carrying a suitable gun provided with a suitable firing mechanism, and for this object it is provided with a suitable bore. On the face and rear walls of this piece a two hooks d are fixed, which serve for connecting the two halves of the case, Figs. 1 and 2, and also hold the stiffening-plate when the gunmount (gun carriage) is erected. A chain is arranged on one hook of each opposite side of the part a, which chains are of use when the apparatus is to be rapidly lifted, Figs. 1, 4, l0, and 11.

The cheeks or side pieces 6, forming the upper part of the gun-mount, are bordered on the under side by a wavy line corresponding to the upperedge or border line of the base part a, and consist of two equal-sized box parts closed on one side, Figs. 6 and 7,which parts when laid with the open side one on the other form a case, Fig. 5, closed on four sides and above. These cheeks e are each provided on their inner side with a guide groove or channel f, formed of wrought-steel, Figs. 6 and 7, by which means they may be Fig. 12 represents connected with and attached to the part at by being slid on the steel bars I), provided on the two side walls of the base part a. The guide-grooves fare dovetail in section and the section of the bars I) is selected to correspond, Fig. 4. For connecting together the two cheeks e one is provided on its inner face with pin-holes g, Fig. 6, and the other with pins h, Fig. 7, to fit into said holes. One cheek 6 has also on the up er side two hooks '5, which may be engaged or hooked in suitable studs on the second cheek e, Figs. 3, 5, 6, and 7.

To the gun-mount arrangement there is also attached the stiifening-plate 7c,(shown in Fig. 8,) which in erecting the gun-carriage is pushed with its rectangular aperture over the block a, so as to extend between the cheeks e, and is hooked on pins on hooks d, Fig. 11. This stiffening-bar 7a, which, as before stated, bears firmly against the block 0, also presses the two hooks d equally firmly outward, whereby these are pressed on the upper parts of the cheeks e, and thus by the mutual pressure a real iron frame for the gun-carriage is formed. In addition to the foregoing parts two struts Z, Fig. 9, are provided, which are placed on suitable pins on the side pieces or checks, and thereby force the latter outward, Fig. 11, and also fix them in position, and the whole gun-carriage is made into a solid whole. Both ends of the upper stud Z may be pointed or spade-shaped, and the center may have an adjusting and supporting device, with suitable set-screws for fixing and adjusting the gun-barrel. This strut then serves with its pointed and spade-shaped ends to act as an implement for any leveling of the ground.

A tube 0, having a plate at secured thereto, serves to secure the stifiening-plate placed over the block 0. This tube is placed through the hole in the block 0, turned through ninety degrees, and secured by the nut p.

For taking apart the closed gun-case and converting the same into a gun carriage (mounting) the mode of operation is as fol= lows: After the hooks d have been released on both sides the upper part c is lifted off the base a, Figs. 4 and 5. The hooksiare then released and the two cheeks e, Figs. 6 and 7, are separated. One cheekeis then fastened on one side of the base a and the other check 6 on the other side in such a way that the guide-channel f, situated on the inner side of the cheeks e, is pushed downward along the entire length of the bar I), provided 'on the side of the base a. Fig. 10 shows the composition ofthe gun-carriage at a stage where only one cheek e is connected with the base a. After both checks 0 have been at tached the hooks d are forced apart toward the upper'edges of the cheeks 6, (left half of Fig.

ninety degrees and secured by a nut 19, as above mentioned. The studs or stays l are then pushed onto the pins provided on the rear ends of the cheeks e, so that the whole gun-mounting is rendered quite rigid, Fig. 11. In Fig. 11 the arrangement of the gunbarrel is also shown in dotted lines, as regards which it may be further remarked that the barrel and firing mechanism and fittings may be of any suitable kindthat is to say, the system of the shooting mechanism itself has nothing to do with the essential part of the invention.

In folding up the gun-mounting the barrel is turned on its vertical pivot, engaging through the block 0 in such a way that the longitudinal axis of the barrel comes into a plane parallel with the face of the base part a, and then the barrel by being turned on its horizontal trunnions is brought into an approximately vertical position, so that the upper part of the case can be unimpededly and easily placed over it. This position of the gun-barrel is also shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. provided with such an arrangement as is generally usual with light batteries, whereby it may be easily lifted off the pivot 'm, Fig. 11, after the firing, in which case then the gun is simply placed in the case a.

As will be seen from the foregoing, the mounting and unmounting of this gun case or carriage is so simple that it may be carried out with rapidity and certainty even by persons who have no special skill or practice therein. As the various parts of the case or carriage are quite symmetrical, the interchanging of the right-hand parts with the left hand ones in putting together the case or the gun-carri. e causes no hindrance or delay.

It is also of importance that neither springs nor screw arrangements are employed in the The barrel may, however, be also,

whole apparatus, and therefore any interruption of working is entirely avoided. Small parts which are easily 10st are also dispensed with in this construction, and the putting together and dismounting take place by a simple fitting together of a pair of large compact parts, by which means the advantage again results that the handling when darkness is approaching can be elfected equally as well as by the clearest daylight.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is'- 1. A gun case or receptacle adapted to be converted into a gun mount, which consists of an open box-like base part and two half= box cheeks having a cavity in one side, devices for connecting the parts together so as to form a closed case or box adapted to contain the gun and means for otherwise connecting said parts to form a rigid gun-mount, substantially as described.

2. A gun case or receptacle adapted to be converted into a gun-mount, which consists of an open box-like base part having a gunsupporting block, a stiffening-plate provided with an opening adapted to fit over the block, means for securing the plate, side or cheek pieces and means for attaching the same to the base part.

3. The combination of the box-like base part carrying the gun-supporting block and the two cheek or side pieces hollow on one side, means for securing the hollow sides together to form a cover for the gun and means for securing the connected parts to said base for transportation purposes.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

EUGEN VON FREYSTADTLER;

Witnesses:

LEONHARD ARTHUR, BURGER KIERSLY. 

